Where's the damn tech board? ah well.
I've gone through 2 brand new interstate batteries in a month on my GTA. That mean it's time for a new alternator, or what's eatin' them? I don't have anything crazy on the car to be eatin' up the volts.
My 88 v6 used to do the same and it was just the alt., but i don't drive my GTA more than once a week...

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88 Firebird, 2.8, auto
Rebuilt engine/tranny (about 20,000 on them)
*K&N air filter
*Flowmaster complete cat-back exhaust system

88 GTA Trans AM, 5.7, auto
*K&N air filter
*New MAF
(Future Mods.)
-JET chip stage II
-180 thermo.
-Flowmaster exhaust
-SLP cold air induction
-SLP intake runners

 

Sure your not getting bad batteries ? ...I dunno just a thought .Wayne

 

get charging system checked free @ parts store/garages. Also, you could've had 2 baad batteries. hapened to me. warranties are great!

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$150.00 2.8 Auto.
short block now
turbo eventually, 3.4 may be in the future

76 Bonnie: 400/400 CIA/Ram Air w/ metal clothes dryer ducting
Power "boat"ing land style

Giving the enemy the opportunity to die for their country

 

I put what I thought on the elec. board, your backup post lol.

------------------[*]my Formula Homepage [*]Collision P/Ns & Diagrams

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."

 

I juat started my Firebird, after it not being started for over a month.
That Exide battery heldup.
I normally use AC Delco, but I'm impressed!
You need alternator looked at.
You have no reason to loose batteries like that.
I'd also suggest you look for shorts, not the wearing type !


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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Put a voltmeter on the fully charged battery with the car off- you should get +12 volts. Start the car, and put the voltmeter back on the battery- it should read close to 13.8 volts- if not, your alternator's not charging...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

 

Are you using cheap batteries? Just wondering... try an Optima if it is the battery.

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For info, see my site.
Click here for my Chevelle information
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Both batteries were Interstate, as I stated already. So no they aren't cheap, warranty covered, whew. I'm pretty confident it's the alternator too, but I wanna make sure to check everything else first. Should I get an a/c delco alt. or just any of those ones from napa, kragen, whatever?

 

Ac Delco! I learned, i replaced my o2 sensor a few times with bosch units and my firebird never ran right, replaced it with an ac-delco unit and no problems. I believe they have a way superior quality product.

------------------
For info, see my site.
Click here for my Chevelle information
In Memory of #3 Dale Earnhardt

 

One other thing you may want to check... the bulkhead connection next to the radiator by the battery. Mine got corroded from battery acid and the battery would go dead. the alternator was good but its output wasn't getting back to the battery

 

I'm running a Pep Boys Lifetime Warranty alternator... and am on my 3rd. Lesson- always get the Lifetime Warranty ones!

Good point too about the batteries... if you see a no-namer, it's probably made by Exide or GNB or the likes... Sears & AC/Delco & Interstate are some of the very few that make & sell their own. EX: That K-mart battery is probably an Exide with a Penske sticker.

 

Hey dont feel so bad ive had 8 new battarys in a year there rangehandler or what ever the one thats ment for a SUV my car eats em like craazy dont know why and i know i dont have a short i dont get it. i jsut replaced mine the other night

 

If you can afford it, do yourself a huge favor and buy a new alternator, not a rebuilt one. A brand new ACDelco is about as good as you can get, but the rebuilt ones are thrown together with basically no quality control. If you do buy a rebuilt one, do what was already mentioned and be sure to get a lifetime warrenty. Eventually you'll get a good one but you may have to go through several first.

 

Iwould try the alternator . Interstate batteries are very good batteries. I tried all kinds of batteries in the race boat and Interstate batteries were the only ones that would hold up to the abuse.

 

i dono if you were talking to me or the other guy about the ALternator i got a powermaster from summit 140 Amps and i know thats chargeing on my car i did my moms alt yesturday what a bytch FWD cars suck to work on

 

Fast RS , Initially I was referring to the other guy.
But on yours , If you are going through 8 batteries a year you definately have an electrical problems.
There are 2 things that drastically shorten the life of a battery.
1- over drawing ( electrical shorts or having too many accessories operating at one time that the alternator cant keep up with and etc).

2- overcharging ( the alternator might be putting out too much causing the battery to boil over and run dry).

I would check your connections and check your volt meter.
your voltmeter should got to about 14 volts when you first start the car and drop back to about 12.5 -13.5 volts after a few minutes with no accessories running.

If it stays at 14-15 volts all the time you might be cooking the battery.

 

Im at the conclusin that its my amp for my stereo or that it could be the underdrivr pully i just have the crank one and that could slow down the accessories

 

I'd love to buy a NEW alt. but it's like $800+ for a new ac/delco, yah rite! I am going to try a rebuilt a/c one. They have bad ones like all the rest, but they are better than the half-*** ones from local auto stores. My `88 'bird rejected the 1st 2, but it's been working great on this last a/c delco for over 1.5 years. Hopefully the GTA does the same, thanks y'all.